This is Timea Nagy. You may have seen her story in the newspaper or heard it in our documentary. Timea has a heart for victims of human trafficking in Canada because she knows first hand what it is like to be one, and this has led her to train law enforcement officers, coordinate with Parliament, and provide help to victims who have no one to turn to. It’s tough work. And this year Timea is making a Christmas Wish, which I’d like to pass onto you:

Dear Friends,

Seasons greetings! I hope this finds you well and excited for the upcoming holidays. As we come to the end of another successful year, I want to thank those who have contributed to our success and ask if you will help us once again.

Currently, the Walk With Me organization has 19 victims of human trafficking who will not be celebrating the holidays this year with their family and friends. For these victims, there will be no Christmas tree and no presents. I can recall through personal experience how difficult the holidays were for me. It was a solemn reminder that I would be celebrating the holidays alone and without my family.

Over the years I was able to establish my own holiday traditions such as grabbing a coffee from Tim Hortons and taking a walk around the city of Toronto admiring the pretty Christmas lights and decorations. I am hoping to help these victims establish new traditions of their own for these upcoming holidays and to provide them with presents so they know they are not forgotten.

However, I require your help. We have both male and female victims between the ages of 20 to 60 years old. Walk With Me would like to provide them with any of the following gifts listed below to help them get through this holiday season.

Phone Vi International Phone Cards: These cards do not charge any connection fee and will help our victims to touch base with loved ones at home during the holidays.

Tim Hortons, Wal Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart Gift Cards: To help them obtain basic necessities and enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.

MasterCard/ Visa Gift Cards: These can be purchased at any gas station or major superstore. This item is strongly encouraged as the victims would be able to purchase what ever it is that they require this holiday season.

If you are unable to purchase one of these gift cards before December 18, 2010 a donation of any amount will also be greatly appreciated. We do need these funds however, by December 18th in order to carry out our Christmas promise.

We hope you will consider supporting Walk With Me. To make a donation, make a cheque out to Courage to Cope, memo: Walk With Me and send it to:

126 Hughson Street North

Hamilton, Ontario L8R 1G6

Attention: Timea Nagy

Thank you in advance for your consideration of our request. I wish peace, joy and love to you and your families during this coming Christmas season. Happy Holidays!

Timea Nagy, Program Director/Victim Care & The Walk With Me Team

Click here for more information on Timea’s organization and her new book as well!

Human trafficking does not necessarily have to involve movement across an international border. Sexual exploitation can take many forms, which Sara Kruzan can attest to – she was put behind bars for life at the age of 16 when, in an act of pure desperation, killed her abuser. It makes me sick that traffickers often get a year or two while their victims are punished with a life sentence. Here is a clip of Sara telling her story. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

This weekend I immersed myself in academic journal articles and scholarly works about human trafficking, leaving my mind full of statistics, trends, and countless debates on how to end the exploitation of young girls and women.

While it has been very beneficial for me to read and learn, yesterday afternoon I checked out a link to a video clip that one of our readers had sent to me.

In the clip, a young Cambodian woman named Long Pross tells her story of being sold into prostitution before she even had her period. The poor thing only has one eye, as the other was jabbed with a metal object by the brothel owner when she pleaded for a few days of rest after an abortion. Her virginity was sold four times, meaning that she was stitched up three times. She is traumatized, but healing gradually with the help of the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Listening to stories like this reminds me of the human face of trafficking victims. Statistics and trends momentarily take the back seat when someone like Long Pross is willing to tell her story. Thank you Emily for sending me this clip and reminding me what our efforts are all about.